Kuffner observatory
Encyclopedia
The Kuffner observatory is one of two telescope-equipped public observatories situated in Austria's capital, Vienna
. It is situated in the West of the city's Ottakring
district, on the slope of the Gallitzinberg
at 302 m altitude. Originally a private scientific institution, it was converted into an educational astronomy facility after World War II as buildings and city lights had encroached to a degree that severely hampered scientific nightsky observations. Today the main tasks of the observatory consist in public education on astronomy, operating and preserving the historical equipment, and minor projects in scientific astronomy.
financed the construction (including extensions built in 1889-1890), the equipment, and also the operation.
During the years leading up to World War I the observatory became one of the most important astronomy sites in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and established a considerable international reputation. Carl Wilhelm Wirtz
, Leo Anton Karl de Ball
, Samuel Oppenheim
, and most notably Karl Schwarzschild
spent parts of their careers here. During his assistantship at the Kuffner observatory, Schwarzschild – who would later become the “grandfather of black hole
theory” -- developed a formula that allowed to calculate the relation between the intensity of faint astronomical light sources, the exposure time, and the degree of opacity created in photographic emulsions.
Ottakring as an institution for public education, a Volkssternwarte.
, built in 1884, to which an 156 mm astrograph
(now used with modern CCD imagers) was added in 1890; the 132 mm meridian circle
, the largest meridian passage instrument of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; its ancillary vertical circle
instrument, one of the few that still exist at European observatories; and the 217/3000 mm heliometer
, the largest of its type that was ever built.
New Extracted Spectra) database. It hosted the Meeting on Asteroids and Comets in Europe (MACE) in 2006, and the DARKSKY European Symposium, an event of the Dark-sky movement
, in 2008.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. It is situated in the West of the city's Ottakring
Ottakring
Ottakring is the 16th District in the city of Vienna, Austria . It is located west of the central districts, north of Penzing and south of Hernals. Ottakring has some heavily populated urban areas with many residential buildings...
district, on the slope of the Gallitzinberg
Gallitzinberg
The Gallitzinberg is a forested hill in the West of Austria's capital, Vienna. While it is relatively unconspicous in the broader context of the Northeastern end of the Wienerwald mountain range, it is nevertheless remarkable because of its multifaceted history, and because it functions as an...
at 302 m altitude. Originally a private scientific institution, it was converted into an educational astronomy facility after World War II as buildings and city lights had encroached to a degree that severely hampered scientific nightsky observations. Today the main tasks of the observatory consist in public education on astronomy, operating and preserving the historical equipment, and minor projects in scientific astronomy.
Scientific achievements
The Kuffner observatory was constructed from 1884-1886 according to plans of Franz Ritter von Neumann jun. Originally it was a private research institution for which the philanthropic head of the Kuffner brewery dynasty from Lundenburg, Moriz von KuffnerMoriz von Kuffner
Moriz von Kuffner was a Jewish-Austrian industrialist, art collector, mountaineer and philanthropist. From the 1880s to the early 1910s he made a fortune in the brewery business, and became a significant sponsor of Vienna's social and cultural life as well as a mentor of astronomy...
financed the construction (including extensions built in 1889-1890), the equipment, and also the operation.
During the years leading up to World War I the observatory became one of the most important astronomy sites in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and established a considerable international reputation. Carl Wilhelm Wirtz
Carl Wilhelm Wirtz
Carl Wilhelm Wirtz was an astronomer who spent his time between Germany and the Observatory of Strasbourg....
, Leo Anton Karl de Ball
Leo Anton Karl de Ball
Leo Anton Karl de Ball was a German-Austrian astronomer. He is credited by the Minor Planet Center as "K. de Ball" for his asteroid discovery, but seems to be best known as Leo de Ball....
, Samuel Oppenheim
Samuel Oppenheim
Samuel Oppenheim was an Austrian astronomer.In 1875 Oppenheim began to study mathematics, physics and astronomy in Vienna. He took his Staatsexamen in 1880. From 1881-1887 he worked at the Observatory of Vienna and from 1888-1896 at the Kuffner observatory in Vienna...
, and most notably Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild was a German physicist. He is also the father of astrophysicist Martin Schwarzschild.He is best known for providing the first exact solution to the Einstein field equations of general relativity, for the limited case of a single spherical non-rotating mass, which he accomplished...
spent parts of their careers here. During his assistantship at the Kuffner observatory, Schwarzschild – who would later become the “grandfather of black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
theory” -- developed a formula that allowed to calculate the relation between the intensity of faint astronomical light sources, the exposure time, and the degree of opacity created in photographic emulsions.
Demise and reactivation
The financial situation of the Kuffner dynasty deteriorated with the onset of World War I. The observatory was closed in 1915 and, after several failed attempts, was reopened only in 1947. The Vienna city council acquired the facility in 1987, and initiated a total refurbishment that lasted from 1989 to 1995 when it was reopened to the public under the direction of the Folk high schoolFolk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
Ottakring as an institution for public education, a Volkssternwarte.
Historical equipment
The Kuffner observatory maintains four major pieces of observation equipment from the late 19th century in working condition: the 270 mm refracting telescopeRefracting telescope
A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image . The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used for long focus camera lenses...
, built in 1884, to which an 156 mm astrograph
Astrograph
An astrograph is a telescope designed for the sole purpose of astrophotography. Astrographs are usually used in wide field surveys of the night sky as well as detection of objects such as asteroids, meteors, and comets.-Design:...
(now used with modern CCD imagers) was added in 1890; the 132 mm meridian circle
Meridian circle
The meridian circle, transit circle, or transit telescope is an instrument for observing the time of stars passing the meridian, at the same time measuring its angular distance from the zenith...
, the largest meridian passage instrument of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; its ancillary vertical circle
Vertical circle
In astronomy, a vertical circle is a great circle on the celestial sphere that is perpendicular to the horizon. Therefore it passes through the zenith and the nadir. There is a vertical circle for any given azimuth, where azimuth is the angle measured east from the north on the celestial horizon....
instrument, one of the few that still exist at European observatories; and the 217/3000 mm heliometer
Heliometer
Heliometer is an instrument originally designed for measuring the variation of the sun's diameter at different seasons of the year, but applied now to the modern form of the instrument which is capable of much wider use....
, the largest of its type that was ever built.
Current research
Besides its function as a scientific museum and its ongoing mission concerning popularization of astronomy, the Kuffner observatory serves as the Austrian national host for the INES (International Ultraviolet ExplorerInternational Ultraviolet Explorer
The International Ultraviolet Explorer was an astronomical observatory satellite primarily designed to take ultraviolet spectra. The satellite was a collaborative project between NASA, the UK Science Research Council and the European Space Agency...
New Extracted Spectra) database. It hosted the Meeting on Asteroids and Comets in Europe (MACE) in 2006, and the DARKSKY European Symposium, an event of the Dark-sky movement
Dark-sky movement
The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people who want to reduce light pollution so people can see the stars, to reduce the effects of unnatural lighting on the environment, and to cut down on energy usage....
, in 2008.